GD_Silver_20231006.pdf (niseko.lg.jp)
From “Green Destinations”, an international certification organization that certifies Niseko Town as a tourist destination.
Niseko Town receives Silver Award, certified by Green Destinations, an international certification organization for tourist destinations
[Niseko] This month, the town received a Silver Award from Green Destinations (GD, headquartered in the Netherlands), an international certification organization that examines the sustainable efforts of tourist destinations. The town hopes that having been evaluated by an international third-party organization will help attract more tourists from overseas.
GD examines the efforts of tourist destinations using standards approved by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which is made up of non-profit organizations, travel agencies, and others from various countries. There are five types of awards, starting with Certified (100% standard achievement rate), followed by Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Niseko Town applied for certification this year for the first time. Since it was his first attempt, he had aimed for bronze, but after the on-site examination by the judges, the evaluation was higher than he had expected. This is the second silver award among local governments in Japan, following Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture, and no other local government has ever surpassed this award.
Niseko Town received high evaluations in “nature and landscape” and “social welfare” out of the six GD criteria. Although the specific details of the review have not been disclosed, the town has been selected as a national “environmental model city” by advocating low-carbon urban development, and has also created a landscape that emphasizes dialogue between developers and residents. We have been proceeding with the formation.
With this award, the town will be able to promote tourism both domestically and internationally using its own logo. Mayor Kenya Katayama commented, “We are very honored to have received this award.We will continue our efforts to become one of the highest quality tourist destinations in the world.”
[Comment from Niseko Town Mayor Kenya Katayama]
Niseko Town has recently received the Silver Hour Award from Green Destinations, an international certification body for tourist destinations.
I am very honored to receive this award.
The town’s tourism policy has focused on “creating sustainable tourism areas,” and has been promoting various initiatives to date. 2020
In 2021, he was awarded the Green Destinations TOP 100 for the second year in a row;
It was also selected as the Best Tourism Village by UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization). 2021, 2022
He also holds official GSTC training sessions and focuses on developing local human resources to promote activities.
In recognition of his efforts, he received the 14th Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner’s Award in 2022.
This review will not only focus on tourism-related initiatives, but will also assess Niseko Town’s progress as an environmental model city.
We are grateful for the various sustainable town development projects that have been carried out, and for the understanding and cooperation of town residents and business operators.
We believe that this is highly evaluated. Niseko Town is proud of the spirit of “mutual aid” preached by Takeo Arishima, our predecessor.
I would like to continue to cherish it in the future.
This was my first attempt and I was able to receive a high evaluation with a Silver Award, but this result was
We are determined to aim for even greater heights without becoming complacent. No.1 not only in Japan but also in Asia, with the highest quality in the world.
We will continue our efforts to become one of the tourist destinations.
Niseko’s world-class “scenery and nature” has been recognized by an international tourism certification body. I believe this is an honorable award that was achieved through continued dialogue and cooperation between the town, the private sector, and businesses.
Six areas were evaluated: “Tourist destination management,” “Nature and landscape,” “Environment and climate,” “Culture and tradition,” “Social welfare,” and “Business and communication.”
I think the day will soon come when Niseko’s world-class powder snow will be recognized in the Business and Communication category, which promotes local specialties and unique services.
As of October 2023, there are only five regions in the world where he has obtained the highest level of this award, GSTC Certification (100% standard achievement rate). In Niseko town
Hiring a sustainability coordinator. By 2030, the goal is for the Niseko area to obtain “GSTC Certified (Green Destinations),” one of only four tourist destinations in the world to date.
2024/1/15 update
2023/9/19 update
401-5, Soga
Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 048-1522, Japan
Tel: +81 (0) 50-3553-4976
Email: info@ngvp.jp
© 2023 Niseko Great View Property All rights reserved.